Air outlet arrangement for air conditioning and ventilating apparatus

ABSTRACT

To provide an easily manufactured mixer for primary, cooled air, and secondary ambient or fresh air, an elongated pressure chamber for primary air is provided with nozzles, or ejector openings in the top thereof, leading into a second chamber which is subdivided by a vertical partition, one side of the partition being arranged to be supplied with secondary air, the other side of the partition being exposed to the outlet from the nozzles or ejectors, so that the secondary air is drawn into the second portion of the chamber, which will therefore form a mixing chamber; the partition extends not quite up to the dividing wall between the pressure chambers and the mixing chamber, to form a slot-like gap, through which air is drawn, to effect thorough mixing of secondary and primary air.

United States Patent Paul July 22, 1975 [54] AIR OUTLET ARRANGEMENT FOR AIR 3,530,782 9/1970 Ardussi 98/40 C CONDITIONING AND VENTILATING 3,611,908 10/1971 Spoormaker 98/38 E 3,643,688 2/1972 Meinert 417/183 APPARATUS 3,720,258 3/1973 Chandler 98/38 E Inventor: Werner Paul, Neckarstrasse 34, 73

Esslingen am Neckar, Germany Filed: Aug. 8, 1973 Appl. No.: 386,573

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 30, 1972 Germany 2242582 [52] US. Cl 98/38; 98/40 C; 137/604 [51] Int. Cl F24f 3/02 [58] Field of Search 98/38, 40 C; 137/604 X, 137/605; 251/326; 417/183 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,211,371 l/1917 Rockwell 251/326 2,663,244 12/1953 MacDowelli. 98/38 E 2,674,177 4/1954 Grandstaff.... 98/38 E 2,858,759 11/1958 Rice et al..... 98/38 E 2,976,794 3/1961 Allander et a1. 98/38 E 3,283,728 11/1966 Notzke 417/183 Primary Examiner-William E. Wayner Assistant Examiner-William E. Tapolcai, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Flynn & Frishauf 57] ABSTRACT To provide an easily manufactured mixer for primary, cooled air, and secondary ambient or fresh air, an elongated pressure chamber for primary air is provided with nozzles, or ejector openings in the top thereof, leading into a second chamber which is subdivided by a vertical partition, one side of the partition being arranged to be supplied with secondary air, the other side of the partition being exposed to the outlet from the nozzles or ejectors, so that the secondary air is drawn into the second portion of the chamber, which will therefore form a mixing chamber; the partition extends not quite up to the dividing wall between the pressure chambers and the mixing chamber, to form a slot-like gap, through which air is drawn, to effect thorough mixing of secondary and primary air.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUL 2 2 ms AIR OUTLET ARRANGEMENT FOR AIR CONDITIONING AND VENTILATING APPARATUS The present invention relates to an air outlet arrangement for air conditioning and ventilating apparatus, and more particularly to such apparatus in which two different air streams are being mixed; typically, one air stream is primary, cooled air, and the other air stream is secondary, ambient, or fresh air, and which is simple to construct and presents little noise in operation.

For air cooling in an air conditioned space, for instance, cold primary air coming from a main supply is fed through an air outlet into the space. The amount of air needed in this case depends on the temperature difference between the cold primary air and the air in the space. In order to increase the economic efficiency of the air conditioning plant, it is therefore desirable to supply primary air at as low a temperature as possible in order thereby to reduce the amount of primary air which has to be fed through the air outlet. On the other hand, however, the temperature difference between the air entering the space from the air outlet and the air already in the space cannot be made excessively high, since otherwise the temperature differences occurring would be found unpleasant.

Air outlet devices have therefore been developed wherein the cold primary air is first intimately mixed with (warmer) secondary air in a mixing zone before this air mixture flows through the air-exhaust opening of the air outlet into the space at an air temperature and air speed which ensure draught-free air conditioning. The secondary air in this case may be room air or atmospheric air. An air outlet device of this type is described for instance in German Pat. specification No. 1 103546. This known device includes a longitudinallyextending box portion open at the front, which in crosssection has a wall portion extending transversely to the flow direction and along whose length are disposed spaced apertures for the upwardly flowing primary air. At some spacing in front of an upwardly and forwardly directed wall portion there is disposed in this device a longitudinally extending plate which forms a boundary of a mixing chamber into which secondary air is sucked through a lower air inlet by the injector effect of the primary air flowing through the apertures into the mixing chamber. said secondary air being mixed in the mixing chamber with the primary air before emergence from the air outlet aperture.

A change in the mixture ratio between the primary air and the suckedin secondary air can be effected by appropriate alteration of the size, shape and arrangement of the openings for primary air. Such a change in the openings for primary air is not, however, possible without constructional expense which makes the entire plant dearer.

It is an object of the invention to provide an air outlet device of the type initially described, which is marked by a simpler construction and enables the mixture ratio between the primary and secondary air to be adjusted according to the particular requirements arising.

Subject Matter of the Present Invention: An airoutlet device for air-conditioning and ventilation apparatus is provided having an elongate pressure chamber suppliable with primary air and associated therewith a mixing chamber bounding the air-outlet opening, wherein at a portion of its wall adjacent the mixing chamber the pressure chamber for a specific length has opening means for the primary air and from which, by the injector effect, this can be drawn in by primary air flowing into the mixing chamber at increased speed secondary air which flows through a secondary-air inlet opening into the mixing chamber and is intimately mixed in said chamber with the primary air before emerging through the air-outlet opening, the opening means for the primary air being provided in the base portion of a chamber open at one side and directly mounted on the pressure chamber, said open-sided chamber being divided by a partition extending longitudinally of the opening means for the primary air into the mixing chamber and a secondary-air feed channel adjacent to the latter and said partition terminating at a pre-determined distance above said base portion of said open-sided chamber thus to form a slot-like opening located laterally of the opening means for the primary air and forming the secondary air inlet into the mixing chamber.

By suitable spacing from the box portion of the chamber of the edge of the partition associated with that base portion, the mixture ratio between primary and secondary air can be adjusted.

It is also desirable for the distance from the base portion of the partition edge which bounds the secondary air inlet to be adjustable. This can be effected by constructing the partition with a part fixedly attached to the chamber wall and on which is adjustably mounted a flat slide plate.

Particularly simple conditions arise of the chamber mounted on the pressure chamber is bounded by parallel walls, and the secondary air feed channel divided by the partition terminates in the immediate vicinity of the air outlet aperture. In that case the secondary air feed channel may discharge into the plane containing the air outlet opening, so that room air sucked in through the secondary air feed channel flows into the mixing chamber.

The opening means for primary air may take the form of a number of nozzles uniformly distributed over the length of the pressure chamber, but the arrangement may also be such that the opening means for primary air comprises at least one air-passage slot.

Finally it is possible for the mixing chamber to be provided in the vicinity of the air outlet aperture with a control member which influences the free crosssection for the passage of air, and enables the direction of emission of air from the air outlet device to be controlled.

The pressure chamber itself, and if necessary the mixing chamber also, are preferably lined with soundabsorbing material in order to keep the intrinsic noise level as low as possible.

The invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an air outlet device in accordance with the invention, illustrating nozzlez ejectors;

FIG. la is a view similar to FIG. 1 and having a slot ejector;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2a is a plan view of the device of FIG. 1a;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation of the device on the line III III of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation of the device on the line IV IV of FIG. la.

The air outlet device shown in the figures of the drawing comprises an elongate sheet metal box 2 surrounding a pressure chamber 1 and closed at its ends at 3 and 4. A lateral primary air inlet 5 opens into the box 2.

In a modification, not shown, the pressure chamber 1 is also part of a primary air channel into which the primary air flows in the axial direction.

The pressure chamber 1 is lined with a soundabsorbing material 6; at the top it is closed by a wall 7 connected with the sheet metal box 2 and which at the same time forms the base portion of a chamber 8 superimposed on the pressure chamber 1. The chamber 8 is laterally bounded by parallel wall parts 9 joined together at the ends by transversely-extending end wall parts 10, 11.

In the wall 7 which closes the bottom of chamber 8 there are formed openings for the passage of primary air from the pressure chamber 1, which in the forms shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 take the form of a number of nozzles 12 distributed over a predetermined length of a straight line, while in the form shown in FIGS. la and 2a the openings for passage of the primary air are formed by a longitudinal slot 13 formed in a nozzle-like slotted bar 140 (see FIG. 4). The chamber 8 is divided by a partition 14 extending parallel to the openings 12 or 13, as the case may be, into a mixing chamber 15 and an adjacent feed channel 16 for the secondary air. In the manner apparent from FIGS. 3 and 4 the partition 14 terminates at a predetermined distance above the base portion 7 of chamber 8. A slot-like aperture 170 lateral of the primary air openings 12 or 13, as the case may be, is thus defined, and forms the secondary air inlet into the mixing chamber 15. V The edge of the partition 14 nearest to the base portion 7 of chamber 8 is at an adjustable distance from said base portion 7. For this purpose the partition 14 is formed with a portion 14a fixedly attached to the walls 9, 10, 11 of the chamber 8, with a flat slide plate 14b adjustably attached to portion 14a. The slide plate 14b which at its bottom projects beyond the marginal edge of the stationary portion 1411, can be set by means of slots 17 and clamping screws 18 at any desired height in relation to the stationary portion 14a and fixed in position.

The device operates as follows:

On admission of primary air into the pressure chamber 1 the primary air flows through the air openings 12 or 13, as the case may be, into the mixing chamber 15 in the direction of the arrows shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. A reduced pressure is thus created in the secondary air feed channel 16 by the injector effect, so that secondary air is sucked through the slot-like aperture 170 into the mixing chamber 15, where it is intimately mixed with the primary air before the air leaves the mixing chamber 15 through the air-outlet aperture 19 and enters the space to be air-conditioned. The ratio of the secondary air and primary air in the mixture depends on the free crosssection of the slot-like aperture 170; it can be adapted to requirements at any time by appropriate setting of the slide plate 14b. In the manner apparent from FIGS. 3 and 4, the secondary air feed channel 16 discharges in the immediate vicinity of the air-outlet aperture 19, the air-inlet aperture 20 and the air-outlet aperture 19 lying in a common plane. Forms of construction are, however, conceivable in which the feed channel 16 for secondary air is extended, for example, to the outside air, or alternatively has a lateral air-inlet opening in through which the secondary air flows.

Finally, in the vicinity of air-outlet aperture 19 in the mixing chamber 15 there is provided a control member in the form of a swingably-mounted vane 21 which enables the direction of emergence of air from the mixing chamber 15 to be adjusted to suit the prevailing conditions.

Various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the inventive concept.

I claim: 1. Air outlet structure arrangement for air conditioning and ventilating apparatus comprising an elongated box-like structure (2); an internal elongated partition wall (7) subdividing said structure (2) into two elongated adjacent chambers (1,8), so that said wall (7) will be common to both said chambers and form one side of each; the first of said chambers (1) forming an elongated pressure chamber (1);

the second of said chambers (8) having substantially parallel boundary walls (9, 10, 11);

means (5) supplying primary air to the pressure chamber (1);

a secondary air inlet (20) formed in the structure and communicating with said second chamber (8); a mixed air outlet (19) formed in the structure and communicating with said second chamber (8); orifice means (l2, l3) penetrating said wall (7) and forming an outlet for primary air from the pressure chamber (1) leading into the second chamber (8) and being shaped to draw air through the inlet (20) by injector effect into said chamber (8);

partition means (14) extending into said second chamber (8) in a direction towards said wall (7) to partition said second chamber into a secondary air feed channel (16) communicating with said air inlet (20) and a second mixing chamber (15) communicating with said mixing air outlet (19), said orifice means (12, 13) and said air feed channel (16), the partition means (14) terminating short of said wall (7) to form a gap or slot between the edge of the partition means and the wall (7); the spacing between said wall (7) and the lower edge of the partition means (14) being adjustable to adjust the width of said gap or slot; the orifice means being located in said wall (7 to direct primary air into said mixing chamber of said second chamber and draw air from said air feed channel (16) through the gap, or slot (170) between the partition means (14) and said wall (7) and into said mixing chamber;

the inlet opening (20) communicating with the secondary air feed channel (16) being located adjacent to the air outlet opening (19) and in the plane containing the air outlet opening, so that the inlet opening (20) and the outlet opening (19) will be located adjacent each other, and separated by said partition means (14).

2. Arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which the partition includes a plate (14a) fixedly attached to the walls of the second chamber and a flat slide-plate (14b) is adjustably arranged on said plate.

3. Arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which the orifice means for the passage of primary air comprises at least one nozzle-like slot (13).

4. Arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which the orifice means for the passage of primary air into said mixing chamber comprises a plurality of nozzles 5. Arrangement as claimed in claim 1., in which an adjustable bafflc-type control member (21 is provided to influence the direction of the air emission, located in the mixing chamber (15) in the vicinity of the outlet opening (19) therefrom. v

6. Air outlet structure arrangement for air conditioning and ventilating apparatus comprising an elongated box-like structure (2) forming a pressure chamber; an internal elongated partition wall (7) closing off said structure (2) to define an elongated adjacent chamber (8), so that said wall (7) will be common to said chamber and the outside thereof and form one side thereof of each; said chamber (8) having substantially parallel boundary walls (9, 10, 11);

means outside of said chamber and along said wall (5) supplying primary air to the pressure chamber a secondary air inlet formed in the structure and communicating with said chamber (8);

a mixed air outlet (19) formed in the structure and communicating with said chamber (8);

orifice means (12,13) penetrating said wall (7) and forming an outlet for primary air from the outside leading into the chamber (8) and being shaped to draw air through the inlet (20) by injector effect into said chamber (8);

partition means 14) extending into said chamber (8) in a direction towards said wall (7) to partition said chamber into a secondary air feed channel (16) communicating with said air inlet (20) and a secondmixing chamber (15) communicating with said mixing air outlet (19), said orifice means (12,13) and said air feed channel (16). the partition means I (14) terminating short of said wall (7) to form a gap or slot between the edge of the partition means and the wall (7), the spacing between said wall (7) and the lower edge of the partition means (14) being adjustable to adjust the width of said gap or slot;

the orifice means being located in said wall (7) to direct primary air into said mixing chamber of said chamber and draw air from said air feed channel (16) through the gap, or slot (170) between the partition means (14) and said wall (7) and into said mixing chamber;

the inlet opening (20) communicating with the secondary air feed channel (16) being located adjacent to the air outlet opening (19) and in the plane containing the air outlet opening, so that the inlet opening (20) and the outlet opening (19) will be located adjacent each other, and separated by said partition means (14).

7. Arrangement as claimed in claim 6, in which an adjustable baffle-type control member (21) is provided to influence the direction of the air emission, located in the mixing chamber (15) in the vicinity of the outlet opening 19) therefrom. 

1. Air outlet structure arrangement for air conditioning and ventilating apparatus comprising an elongated box-like structure (2); an internal elongated partition wall (7) subdividing said structure (2) into two elongated adjacent chambers (1,8), so that said wall (7) will be common to both said chambers and form one side of each; the first of said chambers (1) forming an elongated pressure chamber (1); the second of said chambers (8) having substantially parallel boundary walls (9, 10, 11); means (5) supplying primary air to the pressure chamber (1); a secondary air inlet (20) formed in the structure and communicating with said second chamber (8); a mixed air outlet (19) formed in the structure and communicating with said second chamber (8); orifice means (12, 13) penetrating said wall (7) and forming an outlet for primary air from the pressure chamber (1) leading into the second chamber (8) and being shaped to draw air through the inlet (20) by injector effect into said chamber (8); partition means (14) extending into said second chamber (8) in a direction towards said wall (7) to partition said second chamber into a secondary air feed channel (16) communicating with said air inlet (20) and a second mixing chamber (15) communicating with said mixing air outlet (19), said orifice means (12, 13) and said air feed channel (16), the partition means (14) terminating short of said wall (7) to form a gap or slot (170) between the edge of the partition means and the wall (7); the spacing between said wall (7) and the lower edge of the partition means (14) being adjustable to adjust the width of said gap or slot; the orifice means being located in said wall (7) to direct primary air into said mixing chamber of said second chamber and draw air from said air feed channel (16) through the gap, or slot (170) between the partition means (14) and said wall (7) and into said mixing chamber; the inlet opening (20) communicating with the secondary air feed channel (16) being located adjacent to the air outlet opening (19) and in the plane containing the air outlet opening, so that the inlet opening (20) and the outlet opening (19) will be located adjacent each other, and separated by said partition means (14).
 2. Arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which the partition includes a plate (14a) fixedly attached to the walls of the second chamber and a flat slide-plate (14b) is adjustably arranged on said plate.
 3. Arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which the orifice means for the passage of primary air comprises at least one nozzle-like slot (13).
 4. Arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which the orifice means for the passage of primary air into said mixing chamber (15) comprises a plurality of nozzles (12).
 5. Arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which an adjustable baffle-type control member (21) is provided to influence the direction of the air emission, located in the mixing chamber (15) in the vicinity of the outlet opening (19) therefrom.
 6. Air outlet structure arrangement for air conditioning and ventilating apparatus comprising an elongated box-like structure (2) forming a pressure chamber; an internal elongated partition wall (7) closing off said structure (2) to define an elongated adjacent chamber (8), so that said wall (7) will be common to said chamber and the outside thereof and form one side thereof of each; said chamber (8) having substantially parallel boundary walls (9, 10, 11); means outside of said chamber and along said wall (5) supplying primary air to the pressure chamber (1); a secondary air inlet (20) formed in the structure and communicating with saId chamber (8); a mixed air outlet (19) formed in the structure and communicating with said chamber (8); orifice means (12,13) penetrating said wall (7) and forming an outlet for primary air from the outside leading into the chamber (8) and being shaped to draw air through the inlet (20) by injector effect into said chamber (8); partition means (14) extending into said chamber (8) in a direction towards said wall (7) to partition said chamber into a secondary air feed channel (16) communicating with said air inlet (20) and a second mixing chamber (15) communicating with said mixing air outlet (19), said orifice means (12,13) and said air feed channel (16), the partition means (14) terminating short of said wall (7) to form a gap or slot (170) between the edge of the partition means and the wall (7), the spacing between said wall (7) and the lower edge of the partition means (14) being adjustable to adjust the width of said gap or slot; the orifice means being located in said wall (7) to direct primary air into said mixing chamber of said chamber and draw air from said air feed channel (16) through the gap, or slot (170) between the partition means (14) and said wall (7) and into said mixing chamber; the inlet opening (20) communicating with the secondary air feed channel (16) being located adjacent to the air outlet opening (19) and in the plane containing the air outlet opening, so that the inlet opening (20) and the outlet opening (19) will be located adjacent each other, and separated by said partition means (14).
 7. Arrangement as claimed in claim 6, in which an adjustable baffle-type control member (21) is provided to influence the direction of the air emission, located in the mixing chamber (15) in the vicinity of the outlet opening (19) therefrom. 